Mystery solved: Why do the best soccer players wear No. 10?

Business Insider takes a look at the old numerical system for assigning jersey numbers. (Business Insider)

For complete World Cup 2014 coverage visit Yahoo Sports and follow @YahooSoccer

Unlike any jersey number in any other sport, the No. 10 jersey in soccer carries with it a certain caché, a sense of prestige, a sign of respect. For as long as I can remember, the 10 shirt has been the hottest commodity on the youth level and what the best players strive toward earning.

But how did that come about? It’s partially because the game’s all-time greats, including Pele and Diego Maradona, donned the number while starring on the biggest stages for their countries. A generation of children worldwide grew up idolizing everything about them, from their fancy footwork to their passing panache to the shirts on their backs. Kids identified with everything about them, extending to what number they wore.

[Related: Neymar under enormous pressure as Brazil's No. 10]

Going even further into the way-back machine, there are reasons why Pele and Maradona wore the No. 10. Per our friends at Business Insider, numerical designations from 1-11 were given to players based on their position. Historically, goalkeepers wore No. 1 and forwards wore No. 10 and 11. Wingers, typically wearing No. 7 and 11, later drifted into the midfield, leaving the No. 10 up top.

[Photos: Photogenic fans of the World Cup]

Several of the marquee players in this World Cup wear the coveted No. 10 for their countries. Lionel Messi, Neymar, Wayne Rooney, Wesley Sneijder and Lukas Podolski currently have the honors in Brazil. They’re the latest in a long list of stars to do so that includes iconic names like Michael Owen, Kaka, Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane, Roberto Baggio and yes, Landon Donovan.

The mysterious persona behind wearing the No. 10 jersey has taken on a life of its own over the years. A player filling “the No. 10 role” even has become a talking point for experts and pundits. It comes with immense pressure – which the game’s greats relish.

Comments

ART– AN EYE INTO ANOTHER WORLD

For some reason, I have always been a fan of the arts. The ability to create something from nothing, the ability to bring to life what was once but only a figment of one’s imagination to me, is to dare to rival the gods, if you believe in them. I consider the artist to be a gift to man to constantly remind him that he is possible of anything! This piece is more of a show than tell as I am certain that it would not be proper to write an article on art and tell more words than I show works. I have therefore had to steal from a friend, a classmate and most of all, a talented artist as I, myself, am not so gifted as to put up my works for display but still, I shall humour you eventually with my rendition of a popular cartoon that you may recognise if you grew up watching ‘Looney Tones’. Nevertheless, gift is not a necessity to appreciate beauty and the plethora of magna opera (The many great works). Mr Joshua Zirigbe (9β) is a Nigerian from Delta State and he has given us the opportunit...

THE FIRE ON 23 ROAD – FESTAC, LAGOS

A fire outbreak occured on 23 Road in Festac on Saturday the 14th, February, 2015 which is the popular Valentine's day. Jouleconcept's correspondent, Mr Juwah Awele covered the story and gave a report in form of an article about the occurrence. This can be read below: “There is fire in house 2! There were children locked inside the house…” those were the words of my elderly neighbour, Mrs A, returning from the scene of some ongoing tragedy. Immediately, my mother went for all our official documents she always keeps in a ready to go bag while, my father, brother and I set off in the direction of the blaze. On getting to the front of the close, T Close, we observed the residents of the first few houses on the left hastily withdrawing their belongings from their homes; stuffing generators, plasma TVs, gas cylinders and the works into the back seat of their cars. Some had already driven their cars away! Immediately, we realised the fire was coming from the next cl...

Voucher Charity (2)

Over the months, we've had a lot of discouragements here and there; but we stood by our vision. After the end of the 2nd month of the blogging, we have been able to acquire over 10,000 views: Thanks to you! Because of this, Jouleconcepts and its crew are pleased to inform the start of a voucher charity for its viewers. We have only had supports in the U.S.A for sharing free air time online. Thanks to Mr GbadamosiOluphisayor Temitope ( lives in the United State) for his kind support in making this blog touch not just its local country, but the citizen of the United States of America.. We can not forget the presence of the well wishers of the Jouleconcepts and particularly, GINA LONDON for her impact on the vision also. Jouleconcepts says thanks, God bless the blog, the viewers and the World at large.. Nigerian Airtime Glo 235 873 233 158 434 Etisalat 91108 15796 74652 curtsey Jouleconcepts Please to show that this cards are valid from ...

Welcome to #Jouleconcepts_Official

Search This Blog